Speed-indicator for centrifugal machines.



C; 0. ANDERSON. SPEED INDICATOR FOR CENTRIFUGM MACHINES.

APPLICATION flL ED NOV. 2 19H- .7

Patented Sept. 10,1918,

UNITED STATES PATENT orricn.

CARL OSCAR ANDERSON, OF SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 MONTGOMERY.

WARD & CO. .INC., OF'CHIGAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SPEED-INDICATOR FOR CENTRIFUGAL MACHINES.

Specification a Letters ratent.

Patented Sept. 10, 1918.

Application filed Novcmber2, 1917. Serial N 0. 199,873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL OSCAR ANDER- son, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county ofSangamon and State .of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Speed-Indicators for Centrifugal Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to timing devices or speed indicators for centrifugalseparators, such as hand-power Operated inachines employed for the separation of cream from milk. In these machines the main factor of separation is centrifugal force, and it is important that the separators'shall be run at the full rate of speed in order to remove all the cream. Furthermore, these machines usually are manipulated by unskilled persons with whom it is difiicult to maintain the proper uniform speed for attainlng the best results in the separation of the constitucats. The speed of the machines thus will frequently vary and this results .in varying degrees of separation with loss in the amount of cream obtained.

The present invention, therefore, aims to provide a simple and cheap construction by which the required speed of operation of the separator can be maintained and which will indicate, both visually andaudibly, whenthe speed has fallen below that which is requisite for the most eflectual'separation of the'con-' stituents.

Having this general object in view, and others which will appear as the nature of the improvements is better understood, the invention consists substantially in .the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the appended claims. In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of the crank of a centrifugal separator equipped with a speed indicator constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a face elevation thereof, the crank being broken away;

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, showing the indicator more clearly in its assembled relation to the crank;

Fig. 4 is a face elevation of another form in which the same is designed as an attachtation.

provided with a loose handle sleeve 11, as is 1 common in structures ofthis character. Projecting from one side of said crank 10 is :1 lug 12 which extends at right angles to the crank. This lug, in 'theform illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, is integral with the crank 10. Associated with the lug 12 is .a pin 13 provided at its free endwith a head 14 having a diameter greater than the diameter of said pin, and slidably mounted on said pin 13 is an annular weight 15 which is designed to move between the head 14 and the lug 12 during the rotation of the crank 10 when the speed of the latter is under that required for effecting the most advantageous separation of the cream from the milk, It will be observed that the pin 13 lies in substantially parallel relation to the crank 10, and as the crank rotates said weight will be thrown against the lug 12 by centrifugal force and remain in contact with said lug after the desired-speed has been attained. But until this speed has been attained .the weight 15 traverses the pin 13 and alternately strikes the head 14 and lug 12 as the handle moves to the high and low positions of its path of roweight 15 with the lug 12 and head 14 will emit a metallic sound characteristic of'the contact of one :metal with another, and whether the operator is observing the movement of the weight or not, this audible indication serves to advise the operator that the speed of rotation of the crank is under that which is requisite for the most advantageous separation of the cream from the milk. At the same time, however, the movement of the weight 15 will indicate visually the conditions just mentioned, and not until it comes to rest against the lug 12 will it be apparent to the operator that the speed properly required for the operation of the crank 10 has been obtained.

In Figs. 4' and 5 is disclosed another form,

Consequently, the contact of the mounted on said pin but the lug 12 is a separate element from the crank 10. To provide for attachment of the lug 12 the latter has formed thereon an eye 16, the opening of which receives the handle 17 on which a handle sleeve 18 is loosely mounted. The eye 16 is thus clamped between the crank 10 and an engaging head or nut 19 associated with the handle 17, in which position the lug 12 maintained in proper relation to the crank 10 to preserve the parallelism of the pin 13 with said crank.

It will be obvious that the operation of the construction illustrated in Figs. 4c and 5 is similar to that of the construction illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

The invention is susceptible of application in use to any rotating element the speed of which it is desired to indicate and to maintain within predetermined limits. Therefore, in lieu of applying the indicator to the rotating crank shaft of a cream separator it may be applied to a pulley.

If desired. a bell may be substituted for the weight 15. i

I claim:

1. In a speed indicator of the class described, the combination with a rotatable element, ot an elongated support arranged at one side thereof in oitset relation thereto, a continuously visible indicator associated with said support and movable thereon during operation of the rotatable element at a speed below a predetermined point, and means for bringing said indicator to rest when said predetermined speed has been reached.

In a speed indicator of the class described, the combination with a crank, of a lag associated therewith, a pin supported by said lag and arranged at one side of said crank, an element slidably mounted on said support and adapted to traverse the same under a predetermined speed of rotation of said crank, and means carried by said pin and cooperating with said lug to produce sound during the traverse of said element on said pin.

3. In a speed indicator of the class described, the combination with a crank, of a lug associated therewith, a pin supported by said lug and arranged at one side of said crank, aslidable element surrounding said pin and adapted to traverse the same under a predetermined speed of rotation. of said crank, and means carried by said pin and cooperating with said lug to produce sound during the traverse of said element on said pin.

&. In a speed indicator of the class described, the combination with a crank, 01' an elongated support associated with said crank, an element slidably mounted on said support and adapted to traverse the same under a predetermined speed of rotation of said crank, means for limiting the movement. of said element on said support when the speed of rotation of the crank under the predetermined limit, and means for causing said elementto come to rest when the predetermined limit of speed has been attained.

In a speed indicator of the class described, the combination with a rotatable element, of a support associated therewith, an element slidably mounted on said support and adapted to traverse the same under a predetermined speed of the rotating element, and means with which said sliding element cooperates t'or emitting sound during the traverse thereof.

6. In a speed indicator of the class described. the combination with a rotating element, of a lug associated therewith. a pin supported by said lug, an element slidably mounted on said pin and adapted to traverse the same under the predetermined speed of said rotating element, and means carried by said pin and cooperating with said lug to produce sound during the traverse of said element on said pin.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence o1 two subscribing witnesses.

CARL OSCAR ANDERSON.

\Vitnesses MARY C. Bnowna, Emu F. Nrnnx.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

